Blog 1- Building a Legacy for Regional People: Our Role in the Energy Transition

Across Australia, the energy transition is reshaping how power is generated, stored and shared. Most of that work is happening in regional areas.

Read the full report here

The new report from the Regional Australia Institute, Towards Net Zero: Building a Legacy, highlights what many of us already know, that the regions are carrying much of the responsibility and opportunity that come with renewable energy. You can read it here.

The report recognises that while large-scale renewable projects are changing the landscape, regional communities are also showing leadership. People across the country are looking for ways to make the transition fair, practical and lasting.

A moment to shape our own future

Regional Australia is at the heart of this transformation. Towns like ours might be the ones to host the wind, solar and storage that will power the nation. That brings both opportunity and pressure.

Communities want to see local jobs, better energy security and reinvestment into the services and facilities that make regional life strong. They also want to protect the sense of place that defines rural Australia, the land, the livelihoods and the relationships that hold towns together.

The challenge is not just to build new infrastructure but to build trust and shared purpose as we do it.

Strong policy foundations, stronger local voices

The RAI report sets out well the range of national and state initiatives such as Renewable Energy Zones, Rewiring the Nation, and the emerging “REAL Deal” framework for coordinated regional investment. These policies show that governments understand the importance of getting the transition right and are trying to catch up with the fast rate at which the transition needs to occur now.

But policy alone is not enough. The most successful examples, from Victoria to Western Australia, show that when communities are involved early and meaningfully, outcomes improve for everyone. Engagement, transparency and shared benefit are not optional extras, they are the building blocks of success.

Community energy shows the way

Projects led and owned by communities themselves continue to demonstrate what is possible. Hepburn Wind, Australia’s first community-owned wind farm, reinvests profits locally and provides a clear example of how the benefits of clean energy can stay in regional hands.

Stay tuned for Geni.Energy's visit to Hepburn Energy very soon!

Here in the Namoi region, the Narrabri Community Battery was designed with similar aims. It would have helped stabilise the grid, store excess local solar and kept profits in the community. While circumstances (Narrabri Shire Council) have paused (or ended - not sure yet) its construction, the concept remains powerful, locally controlled energy that serves local needs.

A transition worth shaping together

Renewable energy brings real promise, but it is up to communities to make sure that promise is fulfilled in a way that reflects regional values. The legacy we build should be one of resilience, fairness and shared prosperity.

At Geni.Energy, we believe that the clean energy future will be strongest when it grows from the ground up. The policies are evolving, the opportunities are here, and the best outcomes will come when communities have both the tools and the confidence to lead.

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